UALBANY'S FRANK RESETARITS CHOSEN IN MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE COLLEGIATE DRAFT

     Stony Brook , N.Y. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits became the first Great Dane to be chosen in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft when he was selected with the second pick in the third round by the Washington Bayhawks on Thursday, May 31.  Resetarits, the 22nd player taken overall, was then traded following the draft to the Long Island Lizards for Ryan Moran and a 2008 second-round draft choice.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman from Hamburg , N.Y. , was named to the USILA Division I All-America first team last weekend.  He finished second in goals (3.17 per game) and third in scoring (4.44 points/game) among the national leaders.  Resetarits, the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year, accounted for 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-highest single-season total in the program’s history.  He led UAlbany to the NCAA quarterfinal round for the first time and a school-record 15-3 mark.

     The MLL’s Long Island Lizards play their home games at Mitchel Athletic Complex, a 9,969-seat facility near Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale , N.Y.    Don Casadonte, the Lizards’ owner, played at UAlbany from 1981-84 where he ranks as one of the school’s top-10 career scorers. 

FOUR UALBANY PLAYERS ON 2007 USILA DIVISION I ALL-AMERICA MEN'S LACROSSE TEAM

    Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits leads a group of four players who have been chosen to the 2007 USILA All-America Team, as announced on Saturday, May 26 by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association.  Resetarits, a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, becomes the first Great Dane to earn first-team All-America honors at the Division I level.

     UAlbany’s Jordan Levine (second team), Merrick Thomson (third team) and Brett Queener (honorable mention) were also recognized on the USILA All-America squad.  Luke Daquino, an honorable mention selection two years ago, had been the lone All-American in the lacrosse program’s history since the Great Danes upgraded to Division I in 2000.

     “These players have put the UAlbany lacrosse program on the national map,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was ranked second nationally for six consecutive weeks during the season.  “Their selection to the All-America team shows how much we have grown and the respect UAlbany has gained across the country.”

     Resetarits, the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year, ranks third nationally in scoring with 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-best total in UAlbany annals.  The senior attackman tied a career-high with eight points (6 goals, 2 assists) in the conference tournament championship against UMBC.  Resetarits, a three-time first-team All-America East standout, finished his career with a 49-game scoring streak, which equaled the longest mark among active Division I players.  He ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 241 points (158 goals, 83 assists).

     Levine, a junior midfielder, totaled 23 goals and 16 assists.  He ranked 17th nationally in ground balls at 5.06 per game, plus set the program’s Division I single-season record with 91.  Levine, who scored multiple goals against eight opponents this season, equaled a career-best with five points (2 goals, 3 assists) vs. Loyola in the NCAA’s opening round.  He scooped up a career-high 11 ground balls against both Stony Brook and UMBC in America East postseason play.

     Thomson was voted all-conference four times, including a pair of first-team selections, during his career.  He netted 56 goals and ranks third among the nation’s leaders at 3.11 per game.  Thomson was named the America East Championship’s most outstanding player after accounting for 10 goals and two assists in the postseason tournament.  A native of Stony Creek , Ontario , Thomson participated in the 66th Annual USILA North-South Classic along with UAlbany teammate Frank Resetarits.  He finished as the program’s career scoring leader with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points.

     Queener, a senior goalkeeper, posted a 9.68 goals against average and a .520 save percentage en route to setting a school record with 14 victories in the cage.  He made double-figure saves on six occasions during the spring, including a season-high 14 against top-ranked Cornell in the NCAA quarterfinal round.  Queener, who was also used as an attacker in man-advantage situations, added two goals and five assists.

      UAlbany (15-3) captured its fourth America East championship in the last five years this spring.  The Great Danes established a single-season record for victories, defeated seven top-20 opponents, recorded the first NCAA Division I win in the athletic program’s history, and reached the national lacrosse quarterfinals for the first time.

MIKE AMMANN NAMED TO ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT FIRST TEAM

   Washington, D.C. – UAlbany’s Mike Ammann has been chosen to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team, as selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Thursday, May 24.  Ammann was named to the first team, while his twin brother, Steve, was a second-team selection.  All first-team members move on to the national ballot.

     Ammann, a junior midfielder on the men’s lacrosse squad, has a 3.91 cumulative grade point average in accounting with a dual minor in business administration and mathematics.  He earned second-team All-America East Conference recognition this season after scoring 11 goals and 20 assists.  Ammann, who hails from Putnam Valley, N.Y., had a career-high five assists in the America East championship against UMBC and netted a pair of goals in an NCAA first-round victory over Loyola.  He was named to the conference’s all-academic men’s lacrosse team.

     Steve Ammann has a 3.89 GPA in business administration.  He also was voted to the all-conference lacrosse second team.  Ammann, a junior midfielder, totaled 13 goals and nine assists, and was a member of the America East all-academic unit.  UAlbany (15-3) set a school record for victories and posted wins over seven top-20 teams.

UALBANY’S FRANK RESETARITS & MERRICK THOMSON WILL PLAY IN USILA ALL-STAR GAME

     Baltimore, Md. – University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson have been selected to play in the 66th Annual United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) North-South Classic which features the nation’s finest senior collegiate players.  The all-star contest will be held at Calvert Hall High School in Towson , Md. on Friday, May 25 at 5:45 p.m.  The game is part of the NCAA lacrosse championship weekend at Baltimore ’s M&T Bank Stadium.

     Resetarits is currently third in the nation in scoring with 57 goals and 23 assists for 80 points, the third-best total in UAlbany history.  A finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, Resetarits was voted the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year.  He is second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 241 points (158 goals, 83 assists).

     Thomson earned all-conference recognition four times, including a pair of first-team selections, during his career.  He ranks third among the NCAA Division I leaders in goals with 56 this season.  Thomson, who was named the America East Championship’s most outstanding player, is the program’s all-time scorer with 188 goals and 56 assists for 244 points.

     Resetarits and Thomson led the Great Danes to their fourth America East championship in the last five years in 2007.  UAlbany (15-3) set a single-season record for victories, defeated seven top-20 teams, and reached the NCAA quarterfinal round for the first time in the program’s history.

TOP-RANKED CORNELL EDGES UALBANY IN OVERTIME IN NCAA LACROSSE QUARTERFINALS

     Princeton, N.J. -- John Glynn scored with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Cornell to a 12-11 victory over UAlbany in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship's quarterfinal round on Saturday, May 19 before 8,123 fans at Princeton Stadium. The Big Red advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 1988.
     UAlbany (15-3) trailed 11-9 in the fourth quarter, but sliced the deficit in half when Merrick Thomson netted a rebound after Cornell goalkeeper Matt McMonagle saved Corey Small's initial blast. The Great Danes drew even with 17.8 seconds to play in regulation as Jordan Levine pivoted to his left and placed a low shot inside the right post.
     Each team had scoring opportunities on the first series of possessions in the extra period. Levine just missed the net on a drive from the right side, before UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener made one of his 14 saves on a scramble in front of the crease. The Great Danes' Tyler Endres later carried ball the ball into the Cornell offensive end, but was back-checked by Max Seibald. The situation led to the game-winning play when Eric Pittard found Glynn in front of the cage.
     Cornell (15-0) reversed a 7-5 deficit with three goals in a 23-second span in the third quarter. Pittard, a senior attacker who had two goals and five assists, connected on a low underhanded shot from the left to tie the contest. UAlbany's Dan Barnes won the subsequent face-off, but then his pass back to Queener was picked off by David Mitchell in front of the crease. Mitchell, who had four goals, found the empty net.
     The Great Danes later scored twice seven seconds apart to draw even at nine apiece as the two teams combined for seven goals in the opening five minutes of the third stanza. John Alpizar, who totaled three goals and one assist, converted from the top of the crease on a drive from the left, before long-stick midfielder Chris Schongar scored unassisted off the following face-off. The Big Red, the nation's top-ranked team and winner of three national titles in the 1970s, then went up 11-9 on a goals by Casey Lewis and Mitchell.
     "It was a tough way to lose," said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team was ranked No. 2 in the nation for six consecutive weeks at one point during the season. "We left everything on the field and it took overtime to decide it. We knew were playing against a team with a similar style. Both goalkeepers were great. We were just one goal short of playing in front of 60,000 people."
     UAlbany jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Thomson and Small scored 44 seconds apart. The Big Red, who reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last six years, regrouped to tie the contest at three apiece early in the second period when Seibald, who had two goals and two assists, converted in a man-advantage situation.
     The Great Danes, who won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game last week in the first round, went back ahead on consecutive goals. Alpizar scored the first on a 15-yard blast, before he set up teammate Eric Wolf with a crossing pass to the right of the cage. Pittard drew Cornell even with 1:29 left before the break with a tough-angle shot from the right side off a nifty feed by Seibald. Frank Resetarits then gave Albany a halftime lead when he converted on his first shot of the contest with 2.7 seconds remaining in the period.
     "This has been a special team playing with these guys," said UAlbany's Thomson, who finished his career as the school's all-time scoring leader with 244 career points. "We hit our main goals and helped establish something here. They are good young kids in the program, so Albany is not going away."

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Cornell 12, UAlbany 11 (OT)
   UAlbany - Scoring: John Alpizar 3-1, Merrick Thomson 2-0, Jordan Levine 2-0, Eric Wolf 1-1, Corey Small 1-1, Frank Resetarits 1-0, Chris Schongar 1-0, Steve Ammann 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (59:50, 14 saves, 12 GA), Dan McKeon (4:05, 1 saves, 0 GA).
   Cornell - Scoring: David Mitchell 4-0, Eric Pittard 2-5, Max Seibald 2-2, Casey Lewis 2-0, John Glynn 1-1, Henry Bartlett 1-0, John Espey 0-1: Goalkeeper(s): Matt McMonagle (63:55, 12 saves, 11 GA).

NCAA MEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINAL ROUND TICKETS AVAILABLE

     Princeton, N.J. – Tickets are now available for the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship’s North Region Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 19 at Princeton Stadium.  UAlbany battles Cornell in the first quarterfinal round game at 12 noon.  Johns Hopkins and Georgetown are paired at 3:00 p.m.

     General admission seats are priced at $15.00 for the NCAA lacrosse doubleheader, while children (14-under) are $10.00.  Students can purchase tickets at the gate only on Saturday for $10.00.  Princeton University ’s ticket office is open Monday-Thursday, from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and Friday, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  For tickets, call 609-258-3538 or use the on-line service, www.goprincetontigers.com. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted.  Princeton Stadium, the home of the Tigers’ football program, seats capacity crowds of 27,800.

     UAlbany (15-2) and Cornell (14-0) will meet for the first time.  The Big Red, who defeated Towson in the first round, are ranked No. 1 in both the USILA and Nike/Inside Lacrosse national polls.  Cornell is making its 20th NCAA appearance, including four straight under head coach Jeff Tambroni.  The Great Danes recorded the program’s first-ever NCAA win in Sunday’s 19-10 triumph against Loyola.  The contest will be televised nationally by ESPNU and seen locally on Time Warner Cable (TW3).  Dave Ryan and Mark Dixon will call the action.  WCDB-90.9 FM, the campus’ radio station, will also air the quarterfinal.

MERRICK THOMSON SCORES FIVE GOALS AS UALBANY RECORDS NCAA FIRST-ROUND WIN

     Albany, N.Y. – Merrick Thomson scored five goals and added one assist in leading UAlbany to a 19-10 victory over Loyola in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship before a record-crowd of 2,953 on Sunday, May 13 at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes posted their first NCAA win in the program’s history and advanced to face Cornell in the quarterfinals on Saturday, May 19 at Princeton Stadium.

     UAlbany (15-2) leaped to a 3-0 lead in the opening four minutes of play.  Derek Dale finished off a crossing pass from Jordan Levine following a Loyola miscue.  Mike Ammann, a junior midfielder, then scored back-to-back goals.  He drove from the left and placed a hard shot inside the far post, before advancing from the right side where he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Alex Peaty.

     The Great Danes, who were hosting a NCAA Tournament game for the first time as the championship’s No. 5 seed, moved out to an 8-2 lead with 4:32 left in the second period.  Matthew Green scored unassisted when drove in from the left point and ripped a shot into the top right corner to fuel a three-goal run.  Goalkeeper Brett Queener, who made eight saves, stopped two shots that led to a pair of fastbreak opportunities.  Dale cleaned up on a left-to-right crossing pass from Thomson, before Levine went all the way from the midfield line and switched to his left hand for a six-goal margin.

     UAlbany increased its advantage in the third quarter to 13-4 with another three-goal outburst.  Thomson, a senior attacker, started that stretch by scoring in transition after a turnover.  Levine, who tied a career-best with five points, then split two defenders en route to the cage.  Thomson, who had five-plus points for the 25th time in his career, used a two-man advantage situation to find the net from right of the crease.

     Loyola (7-6) ended the third stanza by ripping off three unanswered in a 46-second span.  Greg Leonard scored an extra-man goal before his team won the following face-off.  Shane Koppens, who had a pair of goals, finished off that possession to slice the deficit to 13-7.  But the Great Danes put the game away in the final quarter by netting six of the game’s next seven goals.  Thomson scored twice in that stretch, and Frank Resetarits and Eric Wolf combined on two other scoring plays.

     “We were very prepared,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose program had lost their previous three NCAA opening-round games.  “We’ve been waiting a long time for this after missing the playoffs last year.  We go into every game anticipating Frank (Resetarits) and Merrick (Thomson) will be shut off, or some special defense will be on them.  That’s what happened today. When Frank and Merrick don’t get their looks, it just opens things up for everyone else.”

     UAlbany showed its balance with eleven players reaching the scoring column. Resetarits, a Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, finished with two goals and two assists, while Corey Small and Wolf each scored twice and had an assist.  Paul Richards and Andrew Spack had two goals apiece for the Greyhounds, who made the NCAA field for the first time since 2001.

     “I really felt like we had to match their energy,” explained Loyola coach Charlie Toomey, whose team finished second in the ECAC standings behind Georgetown .  “They didn’t let us back in, they stayed on top of us today.  They had an answer for everything.  Albany got some good looks at the goal; they proved they can score with their weak hands.”

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Loyola (7-6)                 1          2          4          3          -           10

UAlbany (15-2)            5          5          3          6          -           19

   Loyola – Scoring:  Shane Koppens 2-0, Paul Richards 2-0, Andrew Spack 2-0, Patrick Kennedy 1-2, Dan Bauers 1-1, Joe Landry 1-0, Greg Leonard 1-0, Steven Hess 0-1, Ryan Rabidou 0-1, Dan Kallaugher 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Alex Peaty (36:15, 7 saves, 12 GA), Connor Locke (23:45, 7 saves, 7 GA).

   UAlbany – Scoring:  Merrick Thomson 5-1, Jordan Levine 2-3, Frank Resetarits 2-2, Corey Small 2-1, Eric Wolf 2-1, Derek Dale 2-0, Mike Ammann 2-0, Matthew Green 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, John Alpizar 0-2, Brett Queener 0-1, Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (52:42, 8 saves, 8 GA), Dan McKeon (6:09, 1 saves, 0 GA), A.J. Babnik (1:09, 1 saves, 2 GA).

UALBANY'S FRANK RESETARITS ONE OF FIVE FINALISTS FOR TEWAARATON TROPHY

     Washington , D.C. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits has been named as one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Trophy, which annually recognizes the top male collegiate lacrosse player in the United States .  Joining Resetarits on the list are Duke’s Matt Danowski, Virginia ’s Ben Rubeor, Cornell’s Max Seibard and Johns Hopkins’ Paul Rabil.

     Resetarits, a senior attacker from Hamburg , N.Y. , leads the nation in scoring with 54 goals and 21 assists.  He has netted four or more goals against eight opponents this season.  Resetarits was named the 2007 America East Conference Player of the Year.  He has been voted to the all-conference team four times, including three first-team selections.  Resetarits is currently tied with teammate Merrick Thomson for first place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 236 points (155 goals, 81 assists).

     Resetarits had six goals and two assists to tie a career-high point total in leading UAlbany to a 15-14 victory over UMBC in last Saturday’s America East championship game.  The Great Danes will make their fourth NCAA appearance in the last five years when they host Loyola on Sunday, May 13 at 2:30 p.m. in the first round.

     The Tewaaraton Trophy is the lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.  The winner will be announced on May 30.

UALBANY MEETS LOYOLA IN NCAA TOURNAMENT'S FIRST ROUND AT JOHN FALLON FIELD

     Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany will meet Loyola in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Sunday, May 13 at John Fallon Field.  Face-off is 2:30 p.m.  All opening round matchups will be televised nationally by ESPNU.  The Great Danes, who won the America East Conference title to earn an automatic berth, earned the tournament’s No. 5 seed.

     NCAA tickets will go on sale on Tuesday morning (May 8) at SEFCU Arena’s Merchandise Store on campus.  The box office will be open from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. through Friday.  Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults and students (all seats are general admission), while youth 12-under can purchase at ticket for $2.00.  For ticket information, call 518-442-4683.  Phone orders will be accepted and the athletic ticket office accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

     UAlbany (14-2) is making its fourth NCAA appearance in the last five years.  The Great Danes edged UMBC, 15-14, in last Saturday’s conference championship.  Frank Resetarits leads the nation in scoring with 54 goals and 21 assists, while Merrick Thomson, the league tournament’s most outstanding player, adds 49 goals and 12 assists.

     “I am happy to be home and excited that we are seeded fifth,” said Thomson, whose team will be the first America East lacrosse program to host an NCAA contest.  “This shows that we are starting to step out of Syracuse’s shadow and making a name for ourselves and the school.”

     Loyola (7-5) returns to the NCAA field for the first time since 2001.  The Greyhounds, who garnered an at-large berth with their second-place finish in the ECAC, are in the national tournament for the 15th time.  Shane Koppens leads the team in scoring with 18 goals and 26 assists.  Goalkeeper Alex Peaty has a 9.43 goals against average with a .562 save percentage.

UALBANY WINS AMERICA EAST LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 15-14 VICTORY OVER UMBC

     Albany, N.Y. – Frank Resetarits totaled six goals and two assists as UAlbany held off UMBC, 15-14, to capture the America East Conference men’s lacrosse championship before 1,293 fans on Saturday, May 5 at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes, who earned an automatic NCAA Tournament berth, have won four of the last five conference tournament titles.

     UAlbany (14-2) built a 13-8 lead by scoring three straight times in a one-minute-and-24-second-span late in the third quarter.  Merrick Thomson, the championship’s most outstanding player, found the net off a rebound when UMBC goalkeeper Jeremy Blevins saved Corey Small’s initial attempt.  Jordan Levine won the following face-off and found Frank Resetarits in the front of the goal 11 seconds later.  Matthew Green tallied the second of his two goals when he drove from the left point and rifled a shot into the far top corner.

     UMBC (10-5) rallied in the fourth quarter with five of the game’s next six goals.  P.J. Kimener, who scored three times, drilled a bounce shot inside the right post to close the gap to 14-11 with 9:33 remaining.  Freshman Cayle Ratcliffe then converted from the top of the crease off Drew Westervelt’s past from behind.  Alex Hopmann, who totaled three goals and one assist, cut the margin to one with 5:21 to play when he finished off a series of three shot attempts at the UAlbany cage.

     The Great Danes, who dropped a 19-10 decision to UMBC in last year’s championship final, came back 13 seconds later.  Levine, a junior midfielder who tied a career-high with 11 ground balls, won the subsequent face-off when he saved a rolling ball from going out of bounds.  Chris Schongar, a sophomore long-stick midfielder, collected the ball in mid-air and connected on a bounce shot into the lower right corner for a 15-13 advantage.

     The Retrievers, ranked No. 13 in both national polls, would slice the deficit in half one more time as Hopmann connected again from the right side off a pass from behind by midfielder Terry Kimener with 1:11 left.  After UMBC picked up a slashing penalty, the Great Danes were poised to run out the clock.  But a defensive double-team caused a turnover and the Retrievers’ Kelvin Moulden raced the length of the field into the offensive box.  However, Moulden lost control of the ball and UAlbany midfielder Mike Ammann, who had a career-high five assists, picked up the ground ball to seal the outcome.

     “I wanted to go to Merrick (Thomson),” Schongar explained.  “But they pressed out on him and the defense parted like the Red Sea .  At that point I decided to go for the goal with a low bounce shot.  Dan Barnes did a great job on the face-offs.  If you dominate the face-offs, you have a good chance to win.  We didn’t dominate on the scoreboard, but we won the game.”

     UAlbany reversed an early 2-1 deficit with five unanswered goals.  Resetarits, who tied a career-high point total, ended that run with back-to-back goals.  The Great Danes, who are No. 11 in the latest USILA rankings, led by four on two occasions in the second quarter before settling for an 8-5 halftime lead.

     “I don’t think we let this one slip away,” said UMBC coach Don Zimmerman, whose team had its six-game winning streak halted.  “They’re a great team.  We didn’t play a great first half, but we came back in the fourth quarter.”

     The Retrievers’ Andy Gallagher had two goals and one assist, while Kyle Wimer and Ratcliffe each scored twice.  Goalkeeper Jeremy Blevins made 15 saves.  UAlbany’s Brett Queener turned aside 12 shots, including Gallagher’s point-blank attempt with just over four minutes remaining.

     “We have worked to get back to this point since last May”, said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose program has made three previous NCAA appearances.  “We knew UMBC wouldn’t go away in that fourth quarter, but I didn’t think it would be that tough.  I thought we concentrated on each possession the last five minutes.  Brett (Queener) came up with a huge save (on Gallagher) and our team made the plays when they had to.”

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America East Conference Championship

UMBC (10-5)                2          3          3          6          -           14

UAlbany (14-2)             3          5          5          2          -           15

    UMBC -- Scoring:  Alex Hopmann 3-1, P.J. Kimener 3-0, Andy Gallagher 2-1, Cayle Ratcliffe 2-0, Kyle Wimer 2-0, Mike Burch 1-1, Matt Latham 1-0, Drew Westervelt 0-4, Terry Kimener 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Jeremy Blevins (60:00, 15 saves, 15 GA).

    UAlbany – Scoring:  Frank Resetarits 6-2, Merrick Thomson 3-0, Matthew Green 2-1, Corey Small 1-0, Chris Schongar 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, Eric Wolf 1-0, Mike Ammann 0-5, Jordan Levine 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (54:14, 12 saves, 14 GA), Dan McKeon (5:46, 1 saves, 0 GA).

UALBANY ADVANCES TO AMERICA EAST LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH 17-5 VICTORY

     Albany, N.Y. – Merrick Thomson scored a season-high seven goals, including five in the first half, to lead UAlbany to a 17-5 victory over Stony Brook in the semifinal round of the America East Conference Tournament on Thursday, May 3 before 1,288 fans at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes advanced to the Saturday’s championship. UMBC defeated Binghamton, 11-7, in the other semifinal contest.

     UAlbany (13-2) used a run of nine unanswered goals to erase an early 1-0 deficit.  The Great Danes scored five times in a five-minute-and-40-second span of the first quarter to go ahead.  Frank Resetarits buried a shot from the right side before Thomson connected with the man-advantage.  Corey Small, who totaled three goals and two assists, found the net off a rebound when SBU goalkeeper Brendan Callahan stopped Thomson from point-blank range.  Thomson completed that outburst when he netted Derek Dale’s crossing pass.

     The Great Danes, who will play in their sixth consecutive America East championship final, would push their margin to 9-1 midway through the second period.  Small, a sophomore attacker, scored twice in that stretch, including a drive from the right side that he finished off with his left hand by placing a shot inside the left post.  Dale ended that decisive run by hitting a bounce shot after Thomson came up a ground ball to keep the play alive.

     Thomson, who posted the second-highest point total of his career, added an extra-man goal in the third period.  He gave his team a 14-5 lead with 9:11 left when he scored from the top of the crease off Small’s feed from the right.

     “We were ready to play,” said Thomson, who last scored seven goals against Binghamton on April 9, 2005.  “We wanted to put the two losses we had in the last part of the season behind us.  The conference tournament is a new season and the seniors do not want to go out without a championship.”

     Owen Adams, a junior midfielder, finished with three goals for Stony Brook (8-5), the tournament’s fourth seed.  Larry Cerasi and Ryan Hughes added the other goals, while Callahan had 11 of his 15 saves in the opening half.

     “UAlbany is bigger, faster, and stronger (than us) right now,” explained Seawolves coach Rick Sowell, whose team suffered a 14-5 setback to the Great Danes during the regular season.  “They’re pretty darn good – good seniors, good coaching.  I give UAlbany all the praise, they played well very tonight.”

     UAlbany’s Resetarits finished with a pair of goals to extend his consecutive game scoring streak to 46 straight.  Dale added one goal and two assists as 11 Great Danes reached the scoring column.  Brett Queener, who made his first start in goal since April 20 after injuring his ankle, made eight saves and had two assists as an attacker on the extra-man unit.

     “This has been a tough week,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team tied the conference tournament record for victory margin set by Delaware in 2000.  “We had to get back to business, refocus, and stoke that fire.  Merrick (Thomson) and Frank (Resetarits) have been there for us for four years.  The championship game should be entertaining.  Both teams feel they have been the best two in the conference throughout the year.”

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Stony Brook (8-5)                    1          1          1          2          -            5

UAlbany (13-2)                        6          5          2          4          -           17

   Stony Brook – Scoring:  Owen Adams 3-0, Larry Cerasi 1-0, Ryan Hughes 1-0, Sean Chamberlain 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brendan Callahan (48:27, 15 saves, 13 GA), Rob Camposa (7:55, 1 saves, 3 GA), Alex Kajencki (2:17, 0 saves, 1 GA).

   UAlbany – Scoring:  Merrick Thomson 7-2, Corey Small 3-2, Frank Resetarits, Derek Dale 1-2, Jordan Levine 1-0, Andrew Maini 1-0, Brian Grodotzke 1-0, Kyle Brunk 1-0, Brett Queener 0-2, Steve Ammann 0-1, Mike Ammann 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (43:31, 8 saves, 3 GA), Dan McKeon (15:08, 2 saves, 2 GA), A.J. Babnik (1:21, 0 saves, 0 GA).

UALBANY PLACES 10 PLAYERS ON ALL-AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S LACROSSE TEAM

Frank Resetarits and Scott Marr Voted Major Awards by League’s Coaches

     Albany , N.Y. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits leads a group of 10 players who were voted to the 2007 America East All-Conference Men’s Lacrosse Team, as announced this evening by the conference office at the tournament championship banquet.  Resetarits was chosen the America East Player of the Year, while Scott Marr was named Coach of the Year.

     Resetarits, a senior attacker, leads the nation in goals and scoring with 65 points on 46 goals and 19 assists.  He becomes the first Great Dane since Luke Daquino in 2003 to be picked as the conference’s top player.  A native of Hamburg , N.Y. , he has netted four or more goals against seven opponents this season.  Resetarits, who makes his third consecutive appearance on the all-league first team, leads all NCAA Division I scorers with 227 career points (148 goals, 79 assists).  His 45-game scoring streak is the second-longest nationally.

     Merrick Thomson is a member of the all-conference squad for the fourth consecutive year.  Thomson, a senior attacker from Stoney Creek , Ontario , has 39 goals and 10 assists entering postseason play.  He scored five goals on three occasions this season.  Thomson is third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 224 points (171 goals, 53 assists).

     Jordan Levine, Brett Queener and Craig McDonald joined Resetarits and Thomson on the all-conference first team.  Levine and Queener are on the first unit for the second straight year.  Levine, a junior midfielder, has accounted for 18 goals, 12 assists and a team-leading 59 ground balls.  Queener, who is in his second season as the program’s starting goalkeeper, has a 9.34 goals against average and a .514 save percentage.  He also plays on the extra-man grouping as an attacker.  McDonald, a junior defenseman who was a second-team selection in 2006, has 41 ground balls with a pair of goals.

     Steve Ammann, Mike Ammann, Derek Dale, Garrett Pedley and Tom Trapani were each named to the All-America East second team.  Dale, a junior attacker, is third on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 16 assists.  Mike Ammann (9 goals, 14 assists) and Steve Ammann (11 goals, 7 assists) have been productive as junior midfielders.  Trapani , a senior, and Pedley, a sophomore, are starters on defense that is allowing 9.21 goals per game.

     In addition, Thomson, Pedley and the Ammann brothers earned a spot on the America East men’s lacrosse all-academic team.  Freshman Kyle Brunk was selected to the all-rookie squad.

     UAlbany’s Marr receives the conference’s top coaching award for the second time.  Marr, who also was tabbed in 2002, led the Great Danes to a share of the America East regular-season crown.  UAlbany established school records for most wins in a season (12) and the program’s all-time mark for consecutive victories (11), breaking a standard that had stood since 1972.  The Great Danes have won 10 or more games in four of the last five seasons and made three NCAA appearances.

FRANK RESETARITS NAMED AMERICA EAST LAX PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THE SIXTH TIME

     Boston, Mass. – University at Albany’s Frank Resetarits has been chosen the America East Conference Co-Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced by the conference office on Monday, April 30.  Resetarits earned the weekly award for the sixth time this season.

     Resetarits, a senior attacker, scored a career-high seven goals and added one assist in a 15-14 come-from-behind victory over Dartmouth on April 24.  He netted the game’s final three goals to erase a 14-12 deficit with 1:59 remaining.  He tallied the game-winner with 6.5 seconds to play.  Resetarits, who extended his consecutive game scoring streak to 45 straight, added four goals in last Saturday’s 9-8 loss to Binghamton .

     Resetarits leads the conference and is third nationally in scoring with 46 goals and 19 assists.  He moved to second on the school’s all-time scoring list with 227 points (148 goals, 79 assists).

UALBANY EARNS #1 SEED FOR AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Albany, N.Y. – UAlbany has earned the top seed for this week’s America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Championship.  The Great Danes, who have been ranked among the top 10 nationally for most of the season, shared the regular-season title and will host the entire tournament at John Fallon Field.  The America East champion receives an automatic berth in the NCAA field.

     UAlbany (12-2, AE 4-1) is seeded first for just the second time since the program joined the league in 2002.  The Great Danes will tangle with fourth-seed Stony Brook (8-4, AE 2-3) in the semifinal round on Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m.  The two teams met in last year’s semifinals, with UAlbany pulling out a 14-13 overtime decision.  The championship is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 at 1:00 p.m.

     UMBC (8-4, AE 4-1) captured a share of the regular-season title with UAlbany after defeating Stony Brook last Saturday for its fifth straight win.  The Retievers, the defending conference champions and No. 2 seed, face third-seed Binghamton (4-8, AE 3-2) in the first semifinal at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.  UMBC’s Drew Westervelt is one of the top scorers in the conference with 27 goals and 24 assists.

     Tickets for the America East Men’s Lacrosse Championship are priced at $6.00 for adults and $2.00 for youth (14-under).  UAlbany student tickets are also $2.00 with a valid ID card.  Preferred parking is $5.00 per vehicle in SEFCU Arena’s south lot.  Public parking is also available in Dutch Quad lot on campus.  Contact the UAlbany ticket office, at 518-442-4683, for more information.

     UAlbany has captured three America East Conference tournament titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and played in the championship final on two other occasions.  The Great Danes are second nationally in scoring offense at 13.29 goals per game.  Frank Resetarits ranks third among the Division I leaders in scoring with 46 goals and 19 assists.  Merrick Thomson adds 39 goals and 10 assists.  The two players rank one-two among active NCAA scorers with more than 220 career points.

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2007 America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Championship

(played at UAlbany’s John Fallon Field)

Thursday, May 3

Semifinal Round

No. 2 UMBC (8-4, AE 4-1) vs. No. 3 Binghamton (4-8, AE 3-2), 4:00 p.m.

No. 1 UAlbany (12-2, AE 4-1) vs. No. 4 Stony Brook (8-4, AE 2-3), 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 5

Championship, 1:00 p.m.

BINGHAMTON UPSETS UALBANY, 9-8, IN MEN’S LACROSSE REGULAR-SEASON FINALE

     Vestal, N.Y. – Jeff Santucci scored a pair of goals, including what proved to be the game-winner with one minute and 17 seconds remaining, to lead Binghamton to a 9-8 upset victory over UAlbany on Saturday, April 28 in the regular-season finale for both teams at East Gym Complex.

     Binghamton (4-8, AE 3-2) vaulted to a 4-0 lead in the opening 18 minutes of play and never trailed.  Williams, a senior attacker, tallied an extra-man goal in the first quarter, and converted again with 46 seconds elapsed in the second period.  Kevin Joy completed the run with an unassisted goal.

     UAlbany (12-2, AE 4-1) closed with in 4-3 midway through the second quarter.  Frank Resetarits had two of his four goals in that span, while Merrick Thomson added another.  The Bearcats’ Jeff Rurey and Santucci followed with even-strength goals as their team took a 6-4 lead to the locker room.

     The Great Danes, who had already clinched the top seed for next week’s America East postseason tournament, would eventually tie the contest at seven apiece with 11:53 remaining.  Resetarits netted his 46th of the season early in the final stanza, before Mike Ammann’s unassisted goal drew his team even two minutes later.

     The Bearcats, who has lost six of the previous seven meetings in this series, went back ahead when Williams scored his third of the game off a pass from Jeff Kaylor.  Santucci’s man-advantage goal with 1:17 to play gave his club a 9-7 lead.  UAlbany’s Derek Dale sliced that advantage in half 12 seconds later.  The Great Danes gained control of the following face-off, but that was close as they could get.

     Williams, a senior attacker, finished with three goals and one assist for the Bearcats, who earned a spot in the conference postseason tourney.  Goalkeeper Larry Kline made nine saves.  UAlbany’s Dan McKeon, making his second consecutive start for the injured Brett Queener, stopped 10 shots in the cage.

   Binghamton – Scoring:  Rob Williams 3-1, Jeff Santucci 2-0, Steve Carlson 1-0, Jeff Rurey 1-0, Drew Wichmann 1-0, Kevin Joy 1-0, Jeff Kaylor 0-2, Jake Boyce 0-1, Duncan Streeten 0-1, Stephen Smith 0-1, Andy Cook 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Larry Kline (60:00, 9 saves, 8 GA).       

MEN'S LACROSSE RALLIES IN FINAL TWO MINUTES FOR 15-14 VICTORY OVER DARTMOUTH

     Albany, N.Y. – Frank Resetarits scored the game-winning goal with 6.5 seconds remaining, as UAlbany mounted an improbable comeback over the final two minutes for a 15-14 victory over Dartmouth on Tuesday, April 24 at John Fallon Field.

     Dartmouth (4-8) reversed a 12-10 deficit in the final period with four unanswered in a six-minute-and-three- second span. Sophomore Brian Koch, who had five goals and two assists, netted back-to-back shots to tie the contest.  Freshman attacker Ari Sussman, who totaled four goals and one assist, put his team ahead with when he scored in transition following a turnover.  The Big Green, who nearly upset third-ranked Virginia last Saturday, then took a two-goal lead with 3:52 remaining, as midfielder Wilson Handler cut to the middle and finished off Koch’s feed into the left side of the cage.

     UAlbany (12-1) closed the gap when Derek Dale picked up a ground ball and sent a pass to Resetarits in front of the cage.  The Great Danes, who were coming off a 17-13 loss at Syracuse four days ago, then scored twice in the final minute to pull out the victory.  Following a failed clear by the Big Green, UAlbany’s Jordan Levine fed Resetarits who sent a shot into the left side of the net to draw his team even at 14 apiece with 50.6 seconds to play.  After Levine won the subsequent face-off, the scoring combination worked again.  The junior midfielder reversed to his left and found Resetarits who again placed a shot to the left of goalkeeper Michael Novosel on the winning play.

     “Derek Dale probably saved the game for us when he got that ground ball,” said Resetarits, who has scored four or more goals in six games this season for the nation’s sixth-ranked team.  “Jordan (Levine) did all of the work on that last play.  We knew we didn’t play well and were not getting to ground balls.”

     In the third quarter, Sussman gave Dartmouth a 7-6 lead when he converted Koch’s crossing pass.  But the Great Danes responded with three goals in a 38-second stretch.  Senior attacker Merrick Thomson, who tied a season-best with five goals and added two assists, had a pair in that run, including an empty-net goal when the goalkeeper was stripped of the ball.  Corey Small’s unassisted goal following a successful clear completed the outburst.

     UAlbany pushed their margin to three goals with 1:59 left in the third period, when Thomson sent a blast from the right side inside the far post for his 38th of the season.  But the Big Green sliced the deficit to 11-10 early in the final period.  Doug Rendall beat the third-quarter horn when he drove in from the right side.  Sussman scored from right of the crease off a pass from Nick Bonacci with 54 seconds elapsed in the final period.

     “We ran an open play at the end,” said Levine, who left the game for nearly two quarters after suffering from dehydration.  “Frank is one of the best finishers in college lacrosse and we just wanted to take advantage of his ability to score quickly.  This is a huge win because we want to start the postseason on a high note.”

     Resetarits finished with a career-high seven goals, including five in the final 18-plus minutes of play, and added one assist, while Small had two goals and two assists.  Sophomore goalkeeper Dan McKeon, who made his first start as a collegian for the injured Brett Queener, made a career-high 13 saves.  Dartmouth ’s Jonathan Livadas added two goals and one assist.

     “It’s great when your best player steps up at the right time,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, who team dropped a 12-9 decision to Dartmouth one year ago.  “It was a heckuva win after Friday’s disappointing loss at Syracuse .  Things were not going our way and we played poorly at times, but we still found a way to win.”

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Dartmouth (4-8)     1          4          4          5          -           14

UAlbany (12-1)      3          2          6          4          -           15

   Dartmouth – Scoring:  Brian Koch 5-2, Ari Sussman 4-1, Jonathan Livadas 2-1, Wilson Handler 1-1, Casey Hingtgen 1-0, Doug Rendall 1-0, Christopher Root 0-2, Nick Bonacci 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Michael Novosel (60:00, 9 saves, 15 GA).

   UAlbany – Scoring:  Frank Resetarits 7-1, Merrick Thomson 5-2, Corey Small 2-2, Mike Ammann 1-1, Derek Dale 0-3, Jordan Levine 0-2, Steve Ammann 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Dan McKeon (60:00, 13 saves, 14 GA).

UALBANY MEN'S LACROSSE LOSES GROUND IN USILA AND NIKE/INSIDE NATIONAL POLLS

     Baltimore, Md. – After suffering its first loss of the season to Syracuse, UAlbany fell in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes slid to sixth in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association rankings after six straight weeks in the No. 2 position.  UAlbany (11-1) is No. 8 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll after moving up to third four weeks ago.  The Great Danes are home against Dartmouth on Tuesday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m.  The contest, originally scheduled for March 7, was postponed due to frigid conditions.
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USILA Coaches’ Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. Duke, 3. Virginia, 4. Georgetown, 5. Johns Hopkins, 6. UAlbany, 7. Princeton, 8. Maryland, 9. North Carolina, 10. Navy, 11. Notre Dame, 12. Syracuse, 13. Loyola, 14. UMBC, 15. Towson, 16. Bucknell, 17. Drexel, 18. Delaware, 19. Colgate, 20. Hofstra.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll

1. Cornell, 2. Duke, 3. Virginia, 4. Georgetown, 5. Johns Hopkins, 6. Maryland, 7. Princeton , 8. UAlbany, 9. North Carolina, 10. Notre Dame, 11. Navy, 12. Syracuse, 13. Loyola, 14. UMBC, 15. Towson, 16. Colgate, 17. Bucknell, 18. Drexel, 19. Delaware, 20. Ohio State.

     Syracuse, N.Y. - Mike Leveille tied a career-high with five goals and added two assists in leading Syracuse past UAlbany, 17-13, in a battle of top-20 teams before 5,384 fans at the Carrier Dome on Friday, April 20.
     Freshman Max Bartig snapped a 13-13 deadlock with 1:06 remaining when he sent a blast to the far side of the net off a pass from the middle by Leveille. Syracuse (5-6) kept its NCAA at-large berth hopes alive with a three-goal third quarter. Leveille, who established a career-high with seven points, had one goal and one assist in the final period. He finished off a fastbreak that was started by defenseman Steve Panarelli, who scooped up a ground ball and found Kenny Nims near midfield.
     UAlbany (11-1) scored four consecutive goals to take a 12-11 lead midway through the third period. Frank Resetarits, who had five goals and one assist, found the net three straight times to put his team ahead. He stole a clearing pass and drove to the cage to tie the contest, and then placed a shot through the goalkeeper's legs.
     The Orange, who have won all five meetings in this series, including last year's overtime decision, would later go back in front on Dan Hardy's extra-man goal, his third of the game. SU's Greg Niewieroski added three goals. Jordan Levine and Merrick Thomson each scored three times for the Great Danes, who entered the contest ranked second in the USILA national poll.
     "We knew how good they were because they played Cornell to a one-goal game," said Levine. "They have a good offense and controlled the face-offs. They gave their best effort. We're disappointed but we have many games to play yet this season."
     In an expected offensive shootout, the first half produced scoring runs by both teams. The Orange ran off four unanswered to take an 8-3 lead with 14:00 minutes left in the second quarter. Matt Abbott fired a shot over the goalkeeper's left shoulder as Danny Brennan won the period's opening faceoff. Greg Rommel finished off a transition play 51 seconds later after SU goalkeeper Peter Coluccini robbed UAlbany's Derek Dale.
     The Great Danes ripped off five straight to draw even at eight apiece. Thomson scored off a rebound for his third goal of the half. Resetarits then netted back-to-back goals, the second as he rolled to the net and connected off Levine's feed. Syracuse broke the tie with three goals over the final three minutes of the stanza. Mike MacDonald hit the top right corner, before Niewieroski and Levielle scored seven seconds apart for an 11-8 halftime lead.
     "We made mistakes at crucial times and gave them second and third chances," said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. "We just had too many turnovers. With that said, we were still in a position to win the game. We fought hard to get back into the game on several occasions. We just needed a few breaks to go our way."
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UAlbany (11-1) 3 5 5 0 - 13
Syracuse (5-6) 6 5 3 3 - 17
UAlbany - Scoring: Frank Resetarits 5-1, Merrick Thomson 3-1, Jordan Levine 3-1, Corey Small 1-0, Derek Dale 1-0, John Alpizar 0-2, Mike Ammann 0-1, Steve Ammann 0-1; Goalkeeper(s): Dan McKeon (45:14, 9 GA, 11 saves), Brett Queener (14:46, 8 GA, 4 saves).
Syracuse - Scoring: Mike Leveilee 5-2, Dan Hardy 3-0, Greg Niewieroski 3-0, Max Bartig 2-0, Greg Rommel 1-1, Matt Abbott 1-1, Brendan Loftus 1-1, Mike MacDonald 1-0, Kenny Nims 0-4, Steven Brooks 0-2; Goalkeeper(s): Peter Coluccini (60:00, 13 GA, 15 saves).

     Baltimore , Md. – After recording a pair of road victories last week, UAlbany remains among the top three in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes are No. 2 in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches’ Poll for the sixth straight week.  UAlbany is No. 3 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media rankings.

     UAlbany (11-0) broke two school records in last Saturday’s 14-7 America East Conference victory against Vermont .  The Great Danes established the program’s single-season victory mark.  The 10-win standard was set in 1992, 2003, 2004 and 2005.  UAlbany has also won 11 straight, breaking the consecutive win record that had stood since 1972.  The Great Danes meet No. 16 Syracuse on Friday, April 20 in the Carrier Dome at 7:30 p.m.  The contest will be televised in the Capital Region on Time Warner Cable (TW3).

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1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Duke, 4. Virginia , 5. Princeton , 6. Georgetown , 7. Johns Hopkins , 8. Maryland , 9. Navy, 10. North Carolina , 11. Notre Dame, 12. Bucknell, 13. UMBC, 14. Loyola, 15. Drexel, 16. Syracuse , 17. Towson , 18. Delaware , t19. Hofstra, t19. Army.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll
1. Cornell, 2. Duke, 3. UAlbany, 4. Virginia , 5. Princeton , 6. Georgetown , 7. Johns Hopkins , t8. Maryland , t8. Navy, 10. North Carolina , 11. Notre Dame, 12. Bucknell, 13. Loyola, 14. UMBC, 15. Drexel, 16. Syracuse , 17. Towson , 18. Delaware , 19. Colgate, 20. Hofstra.

     Burlington, Vt. – Merrick Thomson and Frank Resetarits combined for five second-half goals as UAlbany posted its eleventh straight win in a 14-7 America East Conference victory over Vermont on Saturday, April 14 at Moulton Winder Field.  UAlbany (11-0, AE 4-0) established school records for consecutive victories and most wins in a season.

     Vermont (3-9, AE 0-3) built a 3-1 lead early in the second quarter behind the play of senior goalkeeper Daryl Swarts, who totaled 20 saves.  Alex Young and Adam Kornuth scored unassisted in the first quarter, before Pete Hein tallied the first of his two goals with 12:50 remaining before halftime.  The Great Danes, who also trailed in the first half in their previous game against Yale, were able to draw even by halftime on goals by Resetarits and Derek Dale.

     UAlbany exploded with a nine-goal third quarter to take control of the contest.  The Great Danes ripped the net seven straight times in a four-minute-and 37-second span.  Jordan Levine, who had two goals and one assist, scored as he took an unnecessary roughness penalty.  Corey Small connected 10 seconds later in a man-advantage situation.  Dan Barnes then won the subsequent face-off that led to defenseman Craig McDonald’s unassisted goal.

     Thomson, who scored three times and had two assists, played a role in all four of his team’s goals that led to a 10-3 advantage with 8:23 left in the third period.  He set up Dale with a nifty pass and then followed 14 seconds later off Dale’s feed.  Resetarits, the nation’s second-leading scorer, finished with four goals and one assist.

     UVM’s Trevor Wagar tallied the second of his two goals with 1:26 remaining in the third stanza to slice the deficit to 11-6.  But John Alpizar and Resetarits followed with back-to-back goals to seal the outcome for the Great Danes, who are ranked No. 2 nationally in the USILA poll and No. 3 by Nike/Inside Lacrosse.

     “Their goalkeeper made a ton of good saves and they were beating us to ground balls in the first half,” said Resetarits, whose team eclipsed the program’s previous consecutive win streak that was established in 1972.  “We played with more emotion in the second half.  It’s nice that we are accomplishing things, but we still want to play as far as into the month of May as possible.”

     Dale finished with two goals and one assist, while Small added two goals. The Great Danes, who won for 11th time this season by outshooting their opponent, 55-31, play at Syracuse on Friday, April 20.  UAlbany previously won 10 games on four occasions in the 1992, 2003, 2004 and 2005 campaigns.

     “We raised our level in the second half and played with more of a sense of urgency,” UAlbany coach Scott Marr said.  “(Dan) Barnes won a lot of face-offs in that run and we passed the ball well.  Our opponents look at us as a great opportunity.  We handled it well again today, didn’t panic, and stuck with our game plan.”

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UAlbany (11-0, AE 4-0)           1          2          9          2          -           14

Vermont (3-9, AE 0-3)            2          1          3          1          -             7

   Vermont – Scoring:  Pete Hein 2-0, Trevor Wagar 2-0, Adam Kornuth 1-1, Alex Young 1-0, Ryan Gillette 1-0, Andrew Pierson 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Daryl Swarts (60:00, 20 saves, 14 GA).

   UAlbany – Scoring:  Merrick Thomson 3-2, Frank Resetarits 3-1, Jordan Levine 2-1, Derek Dale 2-1, Corey Small 2-0, John Alpizar 1-1, Craig McDonald 1-0, Tom Trapani 0-1, Steve Ammann 0-1, Kyle Brunk 0-1 ; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (45:00, 5 saves, 6 GA), Dan McKeon (15:00, 3 saves, 1 GA).

     New Haven, Conn. -- Merrick Thomson had three goals and one assist as UAlbany held off Yale, 12-10, for its tenth consecutive win on Wednesday, April 11 at Reese Stadium.
     UAlbany (10-0) snapped a 9-9 tie with four seconds left in the third quarter when Frank Resetarits placed a shot inside the right post. Thomson gave his team a two-goal cusihion by scoring from the top of the crease following a successful clear with 59 seconds elapsed in the fourth quarter. Yale (4-5) closed the gap seven minutes later on James Ryan's goal. But Corey Small answered with 3:57 left as he spun to left and rifled a shot into the right side of the cage.
     Yale reversed a 4-2 deficit with three unanswered to take the lead after the first quarter. Chris Kempner's extra-man started that run. Kyle Washabaugh put his team ahead from in front of the crease when the ball barely crossed the goal mouth. The Great Danes reeled off three straight in the opening two-plus minutes of the second period. Thomson finished off Derek Dale's pass from behind to regain the lead. Small then blasted a 12-yard shot to the right of the goalkeeper 17 seconds later after his team won the subsequent face-off.
     "I give them credit, they didn't give us an inch to breath," said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr. "Our defense was outstanding despite the fact that they were on the field for a long time. That was a huge goal by Frank (Resetarits) at the end of the third quarter. Our best players made plays at the right time."
     The Bulldogs, who have dropped three straight by two goals or less, trailed 9-6 in the third quarter, but rallied with three straight in a three-minute-17-second span. Kempner, who had three goals and two assists, ignited that run by hitting the top right corner. Gregory DuBoff later drew his team even by winning a face-off and finishing off the drive to the net.
     "They played inspired and came out hard in the first quarter," said UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener. "We kept our composure and had to fight for the win. They didn't give it to us. We lost our concentration for awhile, but then we communicated better on defense."
     Yale's Brendan Gibson had two goals, while goalkeeper George Carafides made nine saves. Resetarits and Small scored twice for the Great Danes, who tied the program's longest win streak set in 1972. UAlbany is ranked No. 2 in the USILA coaches' poll.
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UAlbany 12, Yale 10
   UAlbany - Scoring: Merrick Thomson 3-1, Frank Resetarits 2-0, Corey Small 2-0, Derek Dale 1-2, Jordan Levine 1-2, Brett Queener 1-0, John Alpizar 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, Mike Ammann 0-3; Goalkeeper(s): Brett Queener (53:09, 10 GA, 6 saves), Dan McKeon (6:51, 0 GA, 0 saves).
   Yale - Scoring: Chris Kempner 3-2, Brendan Gibson 2-0, Kyle Washabaugh 1-3, Tyler Casertano 1-2, Michael Karwoski 1-1, James Ryan 1-0, Gregory DuBoff 1-0; Goalkeeper(s): George Carafides (60:00, 12 GA, 9 saves).

     Boston , Mass. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits has been named America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, April 9 by the conference office.  Resetarits earned the award for the fifth time in seven weeks this season.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman from Hamburg , N.Y. , had a season-high five goals, including three in the first half, in a 14-5 victory over 18th-ranked Stony Brook in conference play on April 7.  Resetarits, who also had two assists, poked in a rebound off a defender’s stick in the first quarter and scored twice in a five-goal, second-quarter run that gave his team an 8-1 lead.  He reached the five-goal mark for the first time since April 29, 2006.

     Resetarits, who has 25 goals and 16 assists this season, is first among the conference leaders and ranks among the top-10 nationally in scoring.  He became the fourth UAlbany player to reach the 200-career point mark, and has 127 goals and 76 assists for 203 points.

     Baltimore , Md. – After defeating 18th-ranked Stony Brook last Saturday, UAlbany remains in the top three in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes are No. 2 in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) coaches’ poll for the fifth straight week.  UAlbany is No. 3 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media rankings for the second week in a row.

     UAlbany (9-0, AE 3-0) is off to its best start as a Division I program.  The Great Danes have won nine straight, their longest string of wins since 1972.  UAlbany travels to non-league opponent Yale on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. face-off.

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USILA Coaches' Poll:  1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Virginia, 4. Duke, 5. Georgetown, 6. Princeton, 7. Maryland, 8. Navy, 9. Johns Hopkins, 10. North Carolina , 11. Notre Dame, 12. Bucknell, 13. Loyola, 14. Towson , 15. UMBC, 16. Drexel, 17. Delaware , 18. Syracuse , 19. Fairfield , 20. Brown.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll:  1. Cornell, 2. Virginia, 3. UAlbany, 4. Duke, 5. Princeton, 6. Georgetown, 7. Maryland, 8. Navy, 9. North Carolina, 10. Johns Hopkins , 11. Notre Dame, 12. Loyola, 13. Bucknell, 14. UMBC, 15. Towson , 16. Drexel, 17. Syracuse , 18. Delaware , 19. Stony Brook, 20. Rutgers.

     Stony Brook, N.Y. – Frank Resetarits had a season-high five goals and Merrick Thomson scored four times in powering unbeaten UAlbany to a 14-5 victory over Stony Brook on Saturday, April 7 in America East Conference play at LaValle Stadium.  The Great Danes, who improved to 9-0 overall and 3-0 in the conference, have won nine straight for the first time since 1972.

     UAlbany, ranked second nationally in the USILA coaches’ poll and third in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, led 3-0 after the opening quarter.  Steve Ammann converted a bounce shot with 35 seconds elapsed.  Resetarits, who had three first-half goals, poked in a rebound off a defender’s stick after SBU goalkeeper Brendan Callahan saved an initial shot.  Jordan Levine then tallied the first of his two goals on a drive from the left.

    The Great Danes, who led 8-2 at halftime, reeled off five unanswered during a nine-minute span in the second period.  Resetarits, who added two assists, scored twice in that stretch.   Derek Dale tallied in transition after UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener stopped Jim Astea’s blast with 1:48 left in the stanza.  Levine completed the decisive run seven seconds later when he won the subsequent face-off and scored from the right in a man-advantage situation.

     Thomson, a senior attackman, did all of his scoring in the second half to maintain his team’s lead.  He found the net twice in each period, including his 24th of the season.  After the Seawolves’ Michal Trojanowski scored to slice the gap to 11-5, UAlbany responded by scoring three times in a three-minute stretch.  Thomson netted an extra-man goal before connecting off John Alpizar’s feed with 4:53 remaining.  Resetartis delivered his fifth goal of the game 24 seconds later.

     “It was a good all-around effort, but our defense played really well,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team is off to its best start as a Division I program.  “(Brett) Queener made some good saves early and we didn’t them get real good looks at the goal.  We played with intensity throughout and never had any let downs.”

     Callahan finished with 10 saves for the Seawolves, who had their five-game winning streak halted.  Stony Brook (5-2, AE 1-1) came into the contest ranked No. 18 in both national polls. Thomson and Resetarits became the fourth and fifth players in the UAlbany program’s history to reach the 200-career point mark.  Thomson (156 goals, 47 assists) and Resetarits (127 goals, 76 assists) each have 203 points.

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UAlbany (9-0, AE 3-0)                      3          5          3          3          -           14

Stony Brook (5-2, AE 1-1)                0          2          2          1          -             5

            UAlbany – Scoring:  Frank Resetarits 5-2, Merrick Thomson 4-1, Jordan Levine 2-0, Derek Dale 2-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, John Alpizar 0-2, Brett Queener 0-1, Andrew Maini 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (37:11, 8 saves, 2 GA), Dan McKeon (21:07, 3 saves, 3 GA), A.J. Babnik (1:42, 0 saves, 0 GA).

            Stony Brook – Scoring:  Robert Trenkle 1-1, Larry Cerasi 1-0, Bo Tripodi 1-0, Michal Trojanowski 1-0, Fil Cavallo 1-0; Steven Waldeck 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brendan Callahan (55:31, 10 saves, 14 GA), Rob Camposa (4:29, 0 saves, 0 GA).

     Boston , Mass. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits has been chosen the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, April 2 by the conference office.  Resetarits earned the weekly award for the fourth time this season.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman from Hamburg , N.Y. , had one goal and a season-best five assists in a 13-10 win over Colgate on March 27.  He followed that performance with three goals and one assist in a last Saturday’s America East victory against UMBC in a battle of national top-20 teams.  Resetarits extended his scoring streak to 39 straight games, the third-longest among active Division I players.

     Resetarits, who leads the conference in scoring with 20 goals and 14 assists, moved into second place on the school’s career goals list with 122 and is now fourth in assists (74).

     Baltimore , Md. – After recording a pair of wins last week, UAlbany is now ranked among the top three in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes are ranked No. 2 for the fourth consecutive week in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse (USILA) coaches’ poll and have moved up one spot to No. 3 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media rankings.  Cornell is the top-ranked team in both polls.

     UAlbany (8-0, AE 2-0) is off to its best start in the program’s history following last Saturday’s 13-9 victory over defending America East Conference champion UMBC.  The Great Danes have won eight straight, their longest winning streak since 1972.

     The Great Danes, who are second nationally in scoring offense at 13.75 goals per game, are now just one of two undefeated Division I teams.       

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1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Virginia , 4. Duke, 5. Georgetown , 6. Navy, 7. Princeton , 8. Loyola, 9. Johns Hopkins , 10. North Carolina , 11. Maryland , 12. Towson , 13. Notre Dame, 14. Delaware , 15. Bucknell, 16. Syracuse , 17. Army, 18. Stony Brook, 19. Fairfield , 20. UMBC.

1. Cornell, 2. Virginia , 3. UAlbany, 4. Duke, 5. Princeton , 6. Georgetown , 7. Navy, 8. Loyola, 9. Johns Hopkins , 10. Maryland , 11. North Carolina , 12. Towson , 13. Notre Dame, 14. Delaware , 15. Syracuse , 16. Army, 17. Bucknell, 18. Stony Brook, 19. Dartmouth , 20. UMBC.         

     Albany, N.Y. – Frank Resetarits scored three goals and added one assist in leading unbeaten UAlbany to a 13-9 America East Conference victory over UMBC on Saturday, March 31 before 1,225 fans at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes, who are off to an 8-0 start overall and 2-0 in the conference, own the program’s longest streak since 1972 with eight straight wins.

     UAlbany led 7-5 in the third quarter but then ripped off three unanswered.  Mike Ammann scored with 17.9 seconds left in the period when he drove to the cage and the UMBC defender fell, leaving him one-on-one with the goalkeeper.  The Great Danes found the net twice in the opening four minutes of the final stanza.  Resetarits spun to his left and hit the net after getting a feed from a driving Jordan Levine.  Steve Ammann’s low bounce shot in transition gave his club a 10-5 cushion.

     UMBC (4-4, AE 1-0) scored three consecutive times to close the gap to two goals for the second time in the final half.  Freshman midfielder Kyle Wimer tallied a pair 39 seconds apart, including a low shot on a drive from the left.  Cayle Ratcliffe, another freshman who had two goals and two assists, then converted from the top of the crease off a pass from behind by Drew Westervelt with 8:55 remaining.

     The Great Danes, who had lost four of the previous five meetings in the series, including a 19-10 decision in last year’s conference championship, then pulled away with three goals in a two-minute-and 35-second span.  Corey Small netted his second of the game from just above the crease area by faking and shooting into the right side of the net.  Resetarits followed with his 20th goal of the season before Eric Wolf sent a blast into the top left corner off a pass from Mike Ammann.

      “This is another step for us in terms of hosting the conference tournament,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose program helped organize fund-raising efforts at the game for Nicole Dale, the sister of junior attackman Derek Dale, who is stricken with a tumor near her pituitary gland and has alopecia universalis, a disease that results in total loss of body hair.  “The players wanted to give their best for Nicole.  They wore “one family” t-shirts under their jerseys.  We were tying to make the perfect play early in the game, but then we finally relaxed and were not as tight.”

     UAlbany led 5-1 at halftime behind the play of Levine, a junior midfielder who had one goal and tied a career-high with three assists.  Merrick Thomson, who would later leave the game with a hip pointer after scoring twice, and Matthew Green tallied first-quarter goals.  Dale added a second-period goal to go with two assists on the day.  Goalkeeper Brett Queener made 14 saves, including five in the final stanza.

     But the Retrievers, ranked in the top 20 in both national polls, would get back into the game in third period.  P.J. Kimener sent a high shot to the left of the goalkeeper off a move to the net with 2:09 remaining.  Senior midfielder Josh Porcell then connected from the slot 55 seconds later when he took a crossing pass from Westervelt in slicing the deficit to 7-5.  Goalkeeper Jeremy Blevins, last year’s conference rookie of the year, finished with nine saves.

     “We played with a lot of passion,” said Dale, whose team is No. 2 by the USILA and No. 4 by Nike/Inside Lacrosse.  “I thank everyone involved; this means a lot to my family and me.  I play for my sister every day.  The win also has a lot of meaning for our team after losing to them in last year’s championship.  This will get us ready for the playoffs.”

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#20 UMBC (4-4, AE 0-1)                     0          1          4          4          -            9

#2 UAlbany (8-0, AE 2-0)                    2          3          3          5          -           13

            UMBC – Scoring:  Cayle Ratcliffe 2-2, Kyle Wimer 2-0, Josh Porcell 1-1, Dan Carmack 1-0, Andy Gallagher 1-0, P.J. Kimener 1-0, Alex Hopmann 1-0, Drew Westervelt 0-2, Kelvin Moulden 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Jeremy Blevins (60:00, 9 saves, 13 GA).

            UAlbany – Scoring:  Frank Resetarits 3-1, Merrick Thomson 2-0, Corey Small 2-0, Jordan Levine 1-3, Mike Ammann 1-2, Derek Dale 1-2, Matthew Green 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, Eric Wolf 1-0; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (54:04, 14 saves, 9 GA), Dan McKeon (5:56, 0 saves, 0 GA).

UALBANY LACROSSE SUPPORTS NICOLE DALE ALOPECIA FUND ON SATURDAY , MARCH 31

     Albany , N.Y. – University at Albany head men’s lacrosse coach Scott Marr announced today that the program will be asking for community and fan support on Saturday, March 31 in making donations to the Nicole Dale Alopecia Fund.  The Great Danes will meet University of Maryland , Baltimore County (UMBC) at John Fallon Field in a rematch of last year’s America East Conference championship final at 12 noon.

     Nicole Dale, the sister of Derek, a starting UAlbany attackman, was diagnosed 14 months ago with microadenoma, a brain tumor near the pituitary gland.  In addition, Nicole, a seventh-grade student from Lake Ronkonkoma , N.Y. , also has alopecia universalis, a disease that affects the autoimmune system and results in a total loss of body hair.

     Katie Bishop, from the UAlbany department of athletics, will be stationed in the bleacher area on the east side of John Fallon Field as she collects donations in an effort to offset Nicole Dale’s medical expenses.  For those who cannot attend Saturday’s game, donations can be sent by mail to:  Nicole Dale Alopecia Fund, 29 Carlson Road , Lake Ronkonkoma , NY   11779 . 

UALBANY LACROSSE OFF TO PROGRAM’S BEST START AFTER 13-10 WIN OVER COLGATE

     Albany, N.Y. – Merrick Thomson tied a season-high with five goals and Frank Resetarits added one goals and five assists as UAlbany held off Colgate, 13-10, in non-conference play on Tuesday, March 27 at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes are off to their best start in the program’s history with a 7-0 record.

     UAlbany jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period after Mike Ammann blasted a shot from the right side after Derek Dale, who gathered in a loose ball, set him up from behind the cage.  Colgate (4-4) would eventually close the gap to 5-4 in the second quarter when Matt Lalli, who had one goal and two assists, scored on a spin move from right of the crease.  Thomson would give his team a two-goal halftime margin as he scored over his shoulder with 2:29 remaining in the stanza.

     The Great Danes, who had dropped their previous two meetings with Colgate in 2000 and 2001, used a three-goal third quarter to pull away.  Thomson, who also scored five times against Delaware earlier this month, netted a shot in transition after teammate Craig McDonald broke up a pass in the defensive end.  Freshman long-stick midfielder Brendan Gleason tallied one minute and 37 seconds later after Dale collected ground ball in the defensive half off a stick check.  Thomson gave his team a 9-4 advantage midway through the period by driving from behind and finding the net from right of the crease.

     UAlbany still led 11-7 late in the final quarter but then scored twice 18 seconds apart.  Steve Ammann lofted a 40-yard shot into an empty net when the Raiders employed a 10-man ride near midfield.  Thomson followed with his fifth of the game and 150th of his career as Resetarits found him with a crossing pass in transition after Colgate was whistled for offsides.

     The Raiders, who dropped a 15-10 decision to fourth-ranked Navy in their previous outing, scored three times in the final three-plus minutes.  Sophomore midfielder Brandon Corp, who totaled a career-high four goals and one assist, had a pair in that stretch.  Colgate goalkeeper Tim Harrington was solid in the cage with 12 of his 21 saves in the second half.

     “We had some opportunities that we didn’t take advantage,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team hosts defending America East Conference champion UMBC on Saturday at 12 noon.  “I was concerned with our overall intensity.  But I think we rode the ball well and made some good face-off adjustments.  Mike Ammann is playing well and making things happen in the middle of the field.”

     UAlbany’s Matthew Green and Ammann each scored twice, while goalkeeper Brett Queener made seven saves and had one assist.  Steve Ammann, Mike’s twin brother, had one goal and assisted on another for the Great Danes, who are ranked No. 2 nationally in this week USILA coaches’ poll.

     “It’s nice that we got a couple of insurance goals because Colgate is a quality program,” said Resetarits, who extended his scoring streak to 38 consecutive games.  “Good clubs know how to close teams out.  It is better to be known as a closer than a frontrunner.”

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Colgate (4-4)                         0          4          0          6          -           10

#2 UAlbany (7-0)                   3          3          3          4          -           13

    Colgate – Scoring:  Brandon Corp 4-1, Brendan Hurley 2-0, Joshua Back 2-0, Matt Lalli 1-2, Ian Murphy 1-0, Kevin Colleluori 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Tim Harrington (60:00, 21 saves, 13 GA).

    UAlbany – Scoring;  Merrick Thomson 5-0, Matthew Green 2-0, Mike Ammann 2-0, Frank Resetarits 1-5, Steve Ammann 1-1, Chris Schongar 1-0, Brendan Gleason 1-0, Derek Dale 0-1, Brett Queener 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (50:36, 8 saves, 7 GA), Dan McKeon (9:24, 1 save, 3 GA).

GREAT DANES AMONG TOP FOUR TEAMS IN BOTH NATIONAL MEN’S LACROSSE RANKINGS

     Albany , N.Y. – Following last Saturday’s win over Hartford in the America East Conference opener, UAlbany is ranked among the top four in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes, who are off to their best since 1993 with a 6-0 record, are No. 2 for the third straight week in the USILA coaches’ poll.  UAlbany moved up one position to No. 4 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse rankings.

     UAlbany meets Colgate on Tuesday, March 27 at John Fallon Field.  Face-off is 3:30 p.m.  The Raiders, who are 4-3 overall, are coming off a 15-10 loss to nationally-ranked and unbeaten Navy.  The Great Danes are ranked third among the NCAA leaders in scoring offense at 13.99 goals per game.  Frank Resetarits (16 goals, 8 assists) and Merrick Thomson (13 goals, 3 assists) are the team’s top scorers.

-agate-

USILA Coaches’ Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Virginia, 4. Navy, 5. Duke, 6. Johns Hopkins, 7. Georgetown, 8. Princeton, 9. Army, 10. Maryland, 11. Loyola, 12. Delaware, 13. Syracuse, 14. Towson, 15. North Carolina, 16. Bucknell, 17. Fairfield, 18. Notre Dame, 19. Stony Brook, 20. UMBC.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. Virginia, 3. Navy, 4. UAlbany, 5. Johns Hopkins, 6. Duke, 7. Princeton , 8. Maryland , 9. Georgetown, 10. Loyola, 11. Army, 12. Syracuse, 13. Towson, 14. Delaware, 15. North Carolina, 16. UMBC, 17. Notre Dame, 18. Bucknell, 19. Fairfield, 20. Stony Brook.

UALBANY REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH 16-4 WIN OVER HARTFORD IN AMERICA EAST OPENER

     Albany, N.Y. – Merrick Thomson had four goals and one assist as UAlbany upended Hartford, 16-4, in the America East Conference opener for both teams on Saturday, March 24 at John Fallon Field.  The Great Danes, who are ranked No. 2 in the USILA poll and No. 5 by Nike/Inside Lacrosse, are off to their best start since 1993 with a 6-0 record.

     UAlbany started slowly before putting together a seven-goal second quarter.  Mike Ammann ignited that period when he scored off a pass from behind by Frank Resetarits following a failed Hartford clearing attempt.  Ammann, a junior midfielder who tied a career-high with two goals and one assist, later gave his team a 4-1 lead on a bounce shot after driving from the left side.  Corey Small and Thomson would later find the net 28 seconds apart for a six-goal advantage.  Thomson added his third of the game for an 8-2 cushion with 1.3 seconds left before the intermission off a Resetarits’ crossing pass.

     The Great Danes, who are ranked third nationally in scoring offense, ran off three unanswered over the opening seven minutes of the third quarter to pull away.  Thomson, who tied a season-high point total, finished off a transition play that began when long-stick midfielder Craig McDonald broke up a clearing attempt.  Jordan Levine drove from the left three minutes later and converted a shot that glanced off the post.  Small, a sophomore, then gave his team an 11-2 lead with 8:22 remaining in the stanza when he slid to his left around a defender and sent a blast into the net.  McDonald would later stick in a rebound off Derek Dale’s initial shot for a 12-3 margin after three quarters.

     “We were sloppy at the start but then seem to focus on the task at hand,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team won its sixth consecutive conference opener.  “We can’t be complacent.  We have to be ready to play each time out.  Our team knows full well that any one can come up and beat you on a given day.”

     Hartford (1-5, AE 0-1) was led by junior midfielder Brian Tilley, who had a pair of first-half goals.  Rob Steffens added one goal and one assist, while goalkeeper Jon McMahon made 12 saves.  UAlbany’s Dale had two goals and was among 12 Great Danes who reached the scoring column.

     “It’s a relief to get that first conference win,” said Thomson, who tallied five or more points in a game for the 18th time in his collegiate career.  “Our goal is to have the conference tournament played here on our field.  I give a lot of the credit so far to our goalkeeper and defense.  They have matured greatly this year.”

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Hartford (1-5, AE 0-1)                      1          7          4          4          -           16

#2 UAlbany (6-0, AE 1-0)                  0          2          1          1          -            4

    Hartford – Scoring:  Brian Tilley 2-0, Rob Steffens 1-1, Jason Whitehouse 1-0, Daniel Clough 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Jon McMahon (60:00, 12 saves, 16 GA).

    UAlbany – Scoring:  Merrick Thomson 4-1, Mike Ammann 2-1, Derek Dale 2-0, Jordan Levine 2-0, Corey Small 2-0, Tyler Endres 1-0, Craig McDonald 1-0, Andrew Maini 1-0, Mark Kelly 1-0, Frank Resetarits 0-3, Kyle Brunk 0-1, John Alpizar 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (42:17, 4 saves, 3 GA), Dan McKeon (17:43, 5 saves, 1 GA).

MEN’S LACROSSE RANKED AMONG TOP FIVE NATIONALLY IN USILA & INSIDE LAX POLLS

     Baltimore , Md. – Following last week’s two victories over Massachusetts and Drexel, UAlbany is ranked among the top five in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes remained No. 2 for the second straight week in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) coaches’ poll, but moved up one spot to No. 5 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media rankings.  Cornell is the nation’s top-ranked squad in both polls.

     The Great Danes, who are off to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1993, edged Massachusetts in overtime on March 13 and defeated Drexel, 16-13, four days later in Philadelphia .  UAlbany has one of the top scoring offenses in the nation at 13.59 goals per game.

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USILA Coaches’ Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2, UAlbany, 3. Johns Hopkins , 4. Navy, t5. Duke, t5. Virginia , 7. Georgetown , 8. Army, 9. Princeton , 10. Maryland , 11. Loyola , Md. , t12. North Carolina , t12. Fairfield , t14. Delaware , t14. Syracuse , 16. Bucknell, 17. Towson , 18. Brown, 19. Notre Dame, 20. Stony Brook.

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Top 20 Poll

1, Cornell, 2. Virginia , 3. Johns Hopkins , 4. Navy, 5. UAlbany, 6. Duke, 7. Georgetown , 8. Princeton , 9. Maryland , 10. Loyola , Md. , 11. North Carolina , 12. Syracuse , 13. Army, 14. Fairfield , 15. Towson , 16. Delaware , 17. Bucknell, 18. Brown, 19. Notre Dame, 20. Stony Brook.

UALBANY’S FRANK RESETARITS NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston , Mass. – UAlbany’s Frank Resetarits has been chosen the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse as announced by the league office on Monday, March 19.  He earned the weekly award for the third time this season.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman from Hamburg , N.Y. , totaled four goals and one assist in a 10-9 overtime win against last year’s national runner-up Massachusetts on March 13.  He added two first-half goals in last Saturday’s 16-13 victory over Drexel at Franklin Field in Philadelphia .

     Resetarits, who has 16 goals and five assists in six games this season, leads the America East in goals per game (3.20) and points per game (4.20).  He also climbed into second place on the school’s all-time goals list with 117, moving past Dave Cerny (1983-86).  Resetarits is sixth on the career scoring chart with 183 points.

UALBANY’S SCOTT MARR CHOSEN U.S. LACROSSE COACH OF THE WEEK

     Baltimore , Md. – UAlbany’s Scott Marr has been selected as the U.S. Lacrosse Coach of the Week for the period ending Sunday.  Marr will be recognized on the CSTV broadcast of the Maryland-North Carolina men’s and women’s lacrosse doubleheader on March 24.

     Marr and the Great Danes remained unbeaten with a pair of impressive victories against Massachusetts and Drexel.  UAlbany is 5-0 heading into this Saturday’s America East Conference opener with Hartford .  Marr, who is in his seventh season at UAlbany, has a 55-40 career record with three NCAA appearances.

MEN'S LACROSSE REMAINS UNBEATEN WITH 16-13 VICTORY OVER DREXEL IN TOP-20 BATTLE

     Philadelphia, Pa. -- Sophomore attack Corey Small scored a career-high five times, including a pair of fourth-quarter goals, to lead UAlbany to a 16-13 victory over Drexel in a battle of nationally-ranked top 20 teams on Saturday, March 17 at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field.  The game’s time and location were changed due to the previous day’s weather.

     The Great Danes, ranked No. 2 in the USILA coaches’ poll and No. 6 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll, broke a 10-10 deadlock in the final period with back-to-back goals by Derek Dale and Small.  Drexel (4-3) had strung together three consecutive goals to draw even, including a shot by Ron Garling with 12:32 to play.  Garling, a sophomore attacker, finished with five goals.

     The Dragons, who defeated top-ranked Virginia to begin their season on Feb. 18, sliced the deficit in half when Brian Neary tallied his third of the season with 9:19 remaining.  UAlbany (5-0) then reeled off four unanswered goals in a two-minute-and-34-second span to pull away.  Small and Dale found the net 40 seconds apart, before long-stick midfielder Chris Schongar netted his first career goal.  Jordan Levine, who scored three times and had one assist, added a man-down goal to complete the decisive run.

     “We bent, but we didn’t buckle, said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, whose team is off to its best start since 1993.  “It took us ten hours to get here because of the snow, and then we had to move the game to a later time.  But I was pleased how our players responded and that’s a credit to their focus.  They are playing with an inner strength and we are getting good leadership from our seniors.”

     UAlbany rattled off three straight goals in the second quarter en route to an 8-5 halftime lead.  Small, who had just one goal this season entering the game, hit the net twice in less than a minute.  Frank Resetarits, the team’s top scorer who had two goals, recorded an unassisted tally with 2:35 left in the stanza to finish off that stretch.

     Drexel’s Andrew Chapman scored four times for the Dragons, who are No. 19 in the latest USILA rankings. UAlbany’s Dale added a pair of goals, while goalkeeper Brett Queener made 11 saves.

     “Corey found some spots against their zone defense,” Marr explained.  “We played better zone offense and moved the ball around.  He gives us a second left-hander (in that lineup).  He shot the ball really well and gained some confidence early in the game.”

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#2 UAlbany (5-0)                   3          5          2          6          -           16

#19 Drexel (4-3)                    1          4          2          6          -           13

   UAlbany – Scoring:  Corey Small 5-0, Jordan Levine 3-1, Frank Resetarits 2-0, Derek Dale 2-0, Chris Schongar 1-0, Merrick Thomson 1-0, Steve Ammann 1-0, Kyle Brunk 1-0, Eric Wolf 0-3, Mike Ammann 0-2; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (59:49, 11 saves, 12 GA), Dan McKeon (0:11, 0 saves, 1 GA).

   Drexel – Scoring:  Ron Garling 5-0, Andrew Chapman 4-0, Brian Neary 2-1, Greg Casey 1-1, Colin Ambler 1-1, Mike Filippone 0-2, Ian Van Houten 0-2, Adam Crystal 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Bruce Bickford (60:00, 5 saves, 16 GA).

SECOND-RANKED UALBANY EDGES MASSACHUSETTS, 10-9 IN OVERTIME, TO STAY UNBEATEN

     Albany, N.Y. -- Merrick Thomson scored his only goal of the game 12 seconds into the overtime period to lead UAlbany to a 10-9 win over Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 13 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes improved to 4-0 on the season, the first time the program has reached that mark to start a season since 1993, when UAlbany was a Division III program.
     UAlbany, ranked second in this week's USILA Coaches Poll, withstood a rally that saw Massachusetts come back from a 7-0 deficit. The Great Danes scored seven unanswered goals to open the game before Massachusetts could manage a tally. Senior Frank Resetarits scored three goals in that span, and assisted on Matthew Green's extra-man goal with 6:29 remaining that gave UAlbany the 7-0 lead.
     Massachusetts (1-3) scored two quick goals before halftime, a straight shot by freshman Bobby Hayes with 2:34 on the clock and senior Brett Garber's first tally of the day with 20 seconds remaining. UAlbany would return from the break and look to start the second half much like the first, as Brett Queener scored his first goal of the season on a man-up opportunity at 12:51of the third.
     The Minutemen began their comeback at 8:38, as Brett Garber and Tim Balise combined for five straight goals for Massachusetts. Garber bookended three straight from Balise, with the final tally in that streak coming at 12:27 of the fourth quarter.
     Resetarits added his fourth goal of the game off an assist by John Alpizar with just under ten minutes to play to give UAlbany a 9-7 lead. Massachusetts cut the deficit to one on a Jim Connolly goal with 3:05 on the clock. Connolly then tied the game at 9-all less than a minute later as his shot from the left side of the goal bounced in the net past Queener.
     UAlbany's Jordan Levine opened the overtime period by winning the faceoff and passing the ball downfield to Derek Dale. Dale connected to a streaking Thomson, who fired a shot past Massachusetts goalkeeper Doc Schneider to end the game.
     "We learned a lesson through a win that you can never relax," said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr, whose team recorded its fourth-straight victory over Massachusetts, each by a one-goal differential. "Their zone worked and forced outside shots. I give them credit for coming back. I was impressed with their character."
     UAlbany managed just two more shots than Massachusetts, 36-34, and won 13 of 23 faceoffs. Queener finished with 12 saves for the Great Danes, while Schneider stopped eight shots in the net for the Minutemen.
     "We had some good shots, but their goalkeeper came up big," said Thomson, who was named the America East Conference Player of the Week after a five-goal performance against Delaware. "It was kind of scary being up 7-0. But the fact that we were able to win despite losing that lead shows that we are developing into a good team."
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No. 2 UAlbany 10, Massachusetts 9
No. 2 UAlbany (4-0) 5 2 1 1 1 - 10
Massachusetts (1-3) 0 2 3 4 0 - 9
UAlbany - Scoring - Frank Resetarits 4-1, Matthew Green 1-2, Merrick Thomson 1-1, Steve Ammann 1-1, Derek Dale 1-1, Jordan Levine 1-0, Brett Queener 1-0, John Alpizar 0-1; Goalkeeper(s) - Brett Queener (59:48, 9 GA, 12 saves), Dan McKeon (0:12, 0 GA, 0 saves).
Massachusetts - Scoring - Tim Balise 3-1, Brett Garber 3-0, Jim Connoly 2-1, Bobby Hayes 1-0, Brian Jacovina 0-4, Evan Blum 0-1; Goalkeeper - Doc Schneider (60:00, 10 GA, 8 saves).

UALBANY MEN’S LACROSSE RANKED SECOND NATIONALLY IN USILA COACHES’ POLL

     Baltimore, Md. – After defeating its second top-10 opponent this season, UAlbany moved up to No. 2 nationally in the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse (USILA) coaches’ poll, the highest ranking in the program’s history, and sixth in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll.  The Great Danes, who are off to their best start as a Division I program with a 3-0 record, upended Delaware , 13-7, last Saturday.

     UAlbany climbed two spots in the USILA rankings and advanced three positions in the media poll. Cornell (4-0) is the top-ranked team in both national polls.

     The Great Danes are home on Tuesday against Massachusetts , last year’s national runner-up.  UAlbany travels to No. 19 Drexel on Saturday, March 17.

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USILA Coaches’ Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. UAlbany, 3. Johns Hopkins , 4. Duke, 5. Navy, 6. Virginia , 7. Georgetown , 8. Syracuse , 9. Army, 10. Princeton , T11. Bucknell, T11. Maryland , 13. North Carolina , 14. Delaware , 15. Loyola , Md. , 16. Towson , 17. Yale, 18. Notre Dame, 19. Drexel, 20. Fairfield .        

Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Top 20 Poll

1. Cornell, 2. Virginia , 3. Johns Hopkins , 4. Navy, 5. Duke, 6. UAlbany, 7. Syracuse , 8. Georgetown , 9. Princeton , 10. Maryland , 11. North Carolina , 12. Loyola , Md. , 13. Army, 14. Bucknell, 15. Towson , 16. Notre Dame, 17. Delaware , 18. Yale, 19. UMBC, 20. Stony Brook.

MERRICK THOMSON NAMED AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE LACROSSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

     Boston , Mass. – University at Albany ’s Merrick Thomson has been selected as the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 12 by the conference office.

     Thomson, a senior attacker from Stoney Creek, Ontario, scored a season-high five goals in last Saturday’s 13-7 victory over No. 10 Delaware. He scored a pair of unassisted goals 39 seconds apart to break a 6-6 tie midway through the third quarter.  Thomson added his fifth goal of the game to give his team a 10-6 lead with 12:56 remaining in the final period.

     Thomson, who has tallied five or more goals on 10 occasions as a collegian, ranks fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 183 points (139 goals, 44 assists).

UALBANY MEN'S LACROSSE DEFEATS DELAWARE, 13-7, IN BATTLE OF TOP-TEN SQUads

     Albany, N.Y. - Senior Merrick Thomson recorded a season-high five goals to lead the UAlbany men's lacrosse team to a 13-7 win over Delaware on Saturday, March 10 at John Fallon Field. The Great Danes were ranked No. 4 in last week's USILA Coaches' Poll, while the Blue Hens, who dropped their first game of the 2007 campaign, were No. 10.
     Thomson scored three goals in a 7-0 run that spanned the final two quarters and put UAlbany ahead 12-6 with 5:30 left in the game. Delaware (5-1) took a 6-5 lead to start the third stanza before the Great Danes were sparked by junior Steve Ammann's first goal of the game at 6:14. UAlbany (3-0) rattled off three more goals before the end of the third, including back-to-back tallies by Thomson.
     Senior Frank Resetarits found the back of the net with 14 seconds left to play in the third, as he picked up a groundball and dove to the goal, slipping the ball past Delaware goalkeeper Tommy Scherr.
     Thomson continued the rally for UAlbany in the fourth, scoring an unassisted tally with 12:56 left to play. Resatarits added his second at 6:44 before Mike Ammann fired a rocket from the outside right edge of the box to continue the scoring streak at 5:30. Delaware's Beau Davis ended the drought for the Blue Hens, taking an assist from Adam Zuder-Havens and finding the back of the net with 4:44 left to play. Steve Ammann added his second of the day with just over a minute remaining to set the final score.
     The teams exchanged goals in the first two periods, heading to halftime tied at 5-5. Thomson scored two of his goals in the first half, while Zuder-Havens tallied three goals in the first two periods for Delaware.
     Scherr played went the distance in the goal for Delaware, making 13 saves. Senior Brett Queener and sophomore Dan McKeon split time in net for UAlbany, combining for 13 saves.
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No. 4 UAlbany 13, No. 10 Delaware 7
UAlbany (3-0) 3 2 4 4 - 13
Delaware (5-1) 2 3 1 1 - 7
UAlbany - Scoring - Merrick Thomson 5-0, Frank Resetarits 2-0, Steve Ammann 2-0, Derek Dale 1-2, Mike Ammann 1-1, Kyle Brunk 1-0, Liam Gleason 1-0, Jordan Levine 0-1; Goalkeeper(s) - Brett Queener (50:00, 7 GA, 11 saves), Dan McKeon (10:00, 0 GA, 2 saves).
Delaware - Scoring - Adam Zuder-Havens 3-1, Beau Davis 1-0, Chris Hichborn 1-0, Sean Calabrese 1-0, Jordan Hall 1-0, Martin Cahill 0-1, Dan Deckelbaum 0-1; Goalkeeper(s) - Tommy Scherr (60:00, 13 GA, 13 saves).

     Albany, N.Y. – The University at Albany ’s men’s lacrosse game with Dartmouth , scheduled for Wednesday, March 7 at 3:30 p.m., has been postponed due to the weather.  A future date for the contest will be determined at a later time.

     The Capital Region forecast is for an overnight temperature hovering around zero degrees with a wind chill of minus-15.  Wednesday’s high is expected to reach the low 20’s.

     The Great Danes, who are fourth in the USILA poll and ninth in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse poll, will meet nationally-ranked Delaware in a battle of top-10 teams at John Fallon Field on Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.

     Baltimore , Md. – Following last Saturday’s victory over crosstown-rival Siena , the University at Albany is ranked in the top 10 in both national men’s lacrosse polls.  The Great Danes moved up to No. 4 in the latest U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) coaches’ poll, the highest-ever ranking in the program’s Division I history, and to No. 9 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll.

     UAlbany climbed three spots in the USILA rankings and stands right behind Duke, Georgetown and Cornell.  The Great Danes also advanced three spots in the media poll, and were unranked just two weeks ago.

     The Great Danes, who play twice at home this week, scored 20 or more goals for the seventh time as a Division I program in the Siena win.  Dartmouth comes to John Fallon Field on Wednesday, while Delaware , ranked 10th in the USILA poll, invades the Capital Region on Saturday, March 10.

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1. Duke, 2. Georgetown , 3. Cornell, 4. UAlbany, 5. Johns Hopkins , 6. Navy, 7. Princeton , 8. Virginia , 9. Army, 10. Delaware , 11. Towson , 12. Syracuse , 13. North Carolina , 14. Maryland , 15. Notre Dame, 16. Bucknell, 17. Denver , 18. Yale, 19. Pennsylvania , 20. Drexel.        

1. Duke, 2. Georgetown , 3. Cornell, 4. Virginia , 5. Johns Hopkins , 6. Princeton , 7. Navy, 8. Syracuse , 9. UAlbany, 10. Maryland , 11. Delaware , 12. Army, 13. Towson , 14. Notre Dame, 15. North Carolina , 16. Loyola , Md. , 17. Bucknell, 18. Denver , 19. Yale, 20. Pennsylvania .       

     Boston , Mass. – University at Albany ’s Frank Resetarits has been selected the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced on Monday, March 5 by the conference office.  Resetarits received the award for the second consecutive week.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman, tied a career-high with eight points (four goals, four assists) in a 21-8 victory against crosstown-rival Siena on March 3.  He scored three times in an eight-goal third quarter that broke the game open.  Resetarits previously has eight points against Binghamton on April 29, 2006.

     Resetaris, who has scored four or more goals against 11 opponents during his career, moved to fifth place on the school’s all-time list in career goals with 105 and is sixth in career scoring with 173 points.     

     Albany, N.Y. -- Senior Frank Resetarits had a career day with four goals and four assists to lead No. 7/No. 12 UAlbany men's lacrosse to a 21-8 victory over crosstown-rival Siena on Saturday, March 3 at John Fallon Field.
     The two teams exchanged goals in the first quarter, with UAlbany striking first, as Steve Ammann scored his first goal of the game off a Jordan Levine assist with 13:35 on the clock. Levine followed with his own unassisted tally at 5:36, while Derek Dale ended the period with a final-second shot that slipped past Siena goalkeeper Brian Cordts.
     The Great Danes rattled off six straight goals in the second half to hold a 10-4 lead heading into halftime.
UAlbany (2-0) came out firing in the second half, scoring eight goals before Siena found the back of the net with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter. Resetarits scored three in that stretch, including back-to-back goals to extend UAlbany's lead.
     Siena (0-2) attempted to spark a comeback in the final stanza, scoring two goals a minute apart, including an extra-man tally by Matt Girsh with 12:27 remaining. Girsh, who led the Saints with three goals in the game, found the back of the net again later in the period off a Brendan Murphy assist.
     The Great Danes, who are ranked No. 7 in the USILA Coaches' Poll and No. 12 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, had 11 different players score goals in the game. It was the seventh time in the program's Division I history in which UAlbany scored 20-plus goals.
     "I am very pleased with the way we came out and played after last week's win," said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr, whose team defeated national powerhouse Johns Hopkins to start the season. "It was close in the first quarter, but we really came together after that and played unselfishly. That's the kind of team we are."
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#7 UAlbany 21, Siena 8

     Siena - Scoring - Matt Girsh 3-0, Matt Leithead 1-0, Ryan Duggan 1-0, Shaun Dunn 1-0, Michael Aylward 1-0, Tim Rau 1-0, Matt Donovan 0-1, Brendan Murphy 0-1, Chris Viviano 0-1; Goalkeeper(s) - Brian Cordts (45:00, 18 GA, 8 saves), David Jalette (15:00, 3 GA, 1 save).
     UAlbany - Scoring - Frank Resetarits 4-4, Derek Dale 3-2, Jordan Levine 3-1, Matthew Green 2-1, Kyle Brunk 2-0, Steve Ammann 2-0, Merrick Thomson 1-1, Mike Ammann 1-1, Corey Small 1-0, Andrew Maini 1-0, Nate Sullivan 1-0, John Alpizar 0-1, Caleb Stratton 0-1, Eric Wolf 0-1; Goalkeeper(s) - Brett Queener (22:00, 4 GA, 2 saves), Dan McKeon (38:00, 4 GA, 5 saves).

    Baltimore, Md. – After upsetting nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins last Saturday, UAlbany is ranked No. 7 in the latest U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches’ Top 20 Poll.  The Great Danes, who were unranked in the preseason, also moved up to 12th in the Nike / Inside Lacrosse Media Poll that was released earlier on Monday, Feb. 26.

     UAlbany has never been ranked in the top 10 in either national lacrosse poll since upgrading to the Division I level for the 2000 campaign.  The Great Danes finished No. 13 in the final 2005 USILA rankings after winning the America East Conference championship for the third year in a row and making a third consecutive NCAA appearance.  UAlbany made its first-ever appearance in the USILA poll on April 4, 2005.

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1. Georgetown, 2. Duke, 3. Princeton, 4. Cornell, 5. North Carolina, 6. Maryland, 7. UAlbany, 8. Notre Dame, 9. Johns Hopkins, 10. Virginia, 11. Syracuse, 12. Navy, 13. Army, 14. Hofstra, 15. Delaware, 16. Towson, 17. Bucknell, 18. Massachusetts, 18. Loyola, Md., 19. Ohio State, 20. UMBC.

1. Princeton, 2. Georgetown, 3. Duke, 4. Cornell, 5. Virginia, 6. Maryland, 7. Johns Hopkins, 8. Navy, 9. Syracuse, 10. North Carolina, 11. Notre Dame, 12. UAlbany, 13. Hofstra, 14. Delaware, 15. Towson,16. Army, 17. Massachusetts, 18. Loyola, Md.,19. UMBC, 20. Denver.

    Boston, Mass. – UAlbany’s Frank Resetarits has been chosen the America East Conference Player of the Week in men’s lacrosse, as announced by the league office on Monday, Feb. 26.  Resetarits scored four goals, including the game-winner with 1:44 remaining, in an 8-7 upset of nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins on Feb. 25.

     Resetarits, a senior attackman from Hamburg, N.Y., scored three times in the first half as UAlbany leaped to a 5-0 lead midway through the second period.  He has now scored four or more goals on 10 occasions as a collegian.  He moved into a tie for fifth place on the school’s career goals list with 105 and is now sixth on the all-time scoring list with 165 points.  Resetarits is second among active Division I career scorers.  

     Baltimore, Md. – Frank Resetarits scored four goals, including the game-winner with one minute and 44 seconds remaining, as UAlbany upset nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins, 8-7, in the season opener for both teams on Saturday, Feb. 24 at Homewood Field.  The Blue Jays were ranked No. 6 in the USILA coaches’ preseason poll and No. 1 in the current Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll.

     In a game of runs, UAlbany (1-0) jumped out to a 5-0 lead midway through the second quarter.  Resetarits, who led the nation in scoring one year ago, connected on a low bounce shot to give his team a two-goal advantage after the opening period.  Matthew Green netted a hard shot, off an isolation play, over the head of goalkeeper Jesse Schwartzman with 9:03 left in the second stanza, before Resetarits rifled a 15-yarder inside the left post 48 seconds later for a five-goal margin.

     Johns Hopkins (1-0) would get back into the contest by halftime.  Kevin Huntley and Jake Byrne tallied unassisted goals 34 seconds apart.  Michael Kimmel, a freshman midfielder, then found the net with one second left before the intermission to close the gap to 5-3.  Kimmel went inside the right post off a long pass from behind by Steven Boyle following a restart.

     The Blue Jays, who had won 44 of their last 47 home games entering the contest, kept UAlbany off the scoreboard for all of the third quarter and a good portion of the final period with a sticky defense.  Meanwhile, the offense put together a string of four unanswered goals.  Mark Bryan, who was coming across the face of the cage, scored off a pass from Kimmel to draw his team even at five apiece.  Boyle, another freshman, picked up a loose ball and hit the cage from the top of the crease for the go-ahead goal with 38 seconds left in the quarter, before Michael Donegar gave his club a 7-5 lead early in the final stanza.

     The Great Danes, who went scoreless for more than 33 minutes, then netted goals 31 seconds apart to tie the contest.  Steve Ammann drove around the cage and converted a spin move from the right side.  John Alpizar then netted a bounce shot from the top of the crease after moving in from the left.  The sophomore would later set up the winning play with another drive that found Resetarits wide open at the top of the crease.  The Blue Jays, who captured the 2005 national title and reached the NCAA quarterfinals last year, had two opportunities to get the equalizer.  Huntley’s blast went wide to the left with eight seconds left, before UAlbany goalkeeper Brett Queener stuffed Boyle in the closing moments.

     “John (Alpizar) dodged hard, Merrick (Thomson) set a pick for me, and I caught it and went low,” explained Resetarits about the winning goal.  “This is my greatest experience in sports.  Everyone in this locker room has a smile from ear to ear.  It shows that we can beat anyone if we put our minds to it.”

     UAlbany’s Queener, who also was used as an attacker in extra-man situations, finished with four saves.  Ammann and Alpizar each had one goal and one assist.  Resetarits, a preseason honorable mention All-American, scored four or more goals for the tenth time as a collegian.

     “That’s pretty big to beat one of the best programs in the history of the game, on their field, and on national television,” said UAlbany coach Scott Marr, an attackman on Johns Hopkins’ 1987 national championship team.  “It shows the character of our kids and that no one stopped playing.  They made some adjustments on defense and we got tentative in those middle periods.  We went to some different sets in the final part of the game.  Alpizar made a heckuva play to get underneath the defender on that tying goal and the momentum shifted back.” 

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UAlbany:  Scoring – Frank Resetarits 4-0, John Alpizar 1-1, Steve Ammann 1-1, Merrick Thomson 1-0, Matthew Green 1-0, Mike Ammann 0-1, Derek Dale 0-1, Corey Small 0-1; Goalkeeper(s):  Brett Queener (50:39, 4 saves, 7 GA), Dan McKeon (9:21, 2 saves, 0 GA).

Johns Hopkins:  Scoring – Steven Boyle 1-1, Michael Kimmel 1-1, Kevin Huntley 1-0, Jake Byrne 1-0, Michael Donegar 1-0, Mark Bryan 1-0, Drew Dabrowski 1-0, Tom Duerr 0-1, Goalkeeper(s):  Jesse Schwartzman (60:00, 4 saves, 8 GA).

    Boston, Mass. – UAlbany, winners of three of the last four league crowns, and defending conference champion UMBC have each received a total of 32 points to share the top spot in the America East Conference Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  The Great Danes earned three first-place votes, while the Retrievers garnered two in voting announced on Friday, Feb. 16.

     The Great Danes, who open their schedule on Saturday, Feb. 24 against sixth-ranked Johns Hopkins on ESPNU, return all but one starter from last year’s 8-7 squad that made its fifth consecutive appearance in the America East tournament championship final.  UAlbany has five scorers returning with 20-plus points from an offense that was ranked third nationally at 11.73 goals per game.  Frank Resetarits and Merrick Thomson, a pair of three-time all-conference selections, lead that group.  Resetarits, the nation’s leading scorer, totaled 45 goals and 19 assists.  Thomson, who is first among active NCAA scorers with 175 career points, had 31 goals and 11 assists.

     Head coach Scott Marr, who is in his seventh season, also returns first-team all-conference goalkeeper Brett Queener.  The senior netminder led the league in saves per game (12.13) and posted a .547 save percentage.  Craig McDonald, a second-team All-America East defenseman, was third on the team in ground balls (38).  All-Conference performers Jordan Levine (first team) and Matthew Green (second team) are active in the midfield.  Levine, who was eighth among the Division I leaders with 88 ground balls, had 14 goals and 13 assists.

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T1. Albany (3), 32, T1. UMBC (2), 32; 3. Stony Brook 22; 4. Binghamton (1), 21; 5. Vermont 12; 6. Hartford 7.

(  ) – first-place votes  

      Albany, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Merrick Thomson and Frank Resetarits have been named to the Inside Lacrosse/Face-Off Yearbook Preseason Division I All-America Team.  Thomson and Resetarits are honorable mention selections.

     Resetarits, a senior attack from Hamburg, N.Y., was the top scorer in Division I last year at 4.27 points per game.  He totaled 45 goals and 19 assists for 63 points.  Resetarits ranks sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 161 points (101 goals, 60 assists).

     Thomson, a senior attack from Stoney Creek, Ontario, tallied 31 goals and 11 assists for the nation’s third-leading offense.  Thomson is third on UAlbany’s career scoring chart with 175 points (132 goals, 43 assists).  He already is the school’s all-time goal scorer.

1. Virginia , 2. Johns Hopkins , 3. Syracuse , 4. Princeton , 5. Georgetown , 6. Duke, 7. Maryland , 8. Cornell, 9. Navy, 10. Massachusetts , 11. Towson , 12. Loyola , Md. , 13. Pennsylvania , 14. Denver , 15. Hofstra, 16. Notre Dame, 17. Penn State , 18. UMBC, 19. Delaware , 20. UAlbany, 21. North Carolina , 22. Dartmouth , 23. Harvard, 24. Army, 25. Hobart .